The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1887-01-22
Correspondence Baltimore County Union.
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON,
Work well Advanced In Congress-The
Interstate Commerce Bill and the
Mormon Bill-No Pension for
Mrs. Logan, &C.

WASHINGTON, D. c., January 10th, 1887.
Editors Union The general remark here with
regard to the present session of Congress is how
industrious it is and how much important egisla-
ton it is likely to accomplish before it will adj
journ on the 4th of next March. Before Congress
met Mr.. Randall came here with the several mem
bers Of the appropriations committee, of which he
is the chairman, and had some of the appropr-
alton bills we'll under way before the first Monday
of December rolled around, the day for the assem-
bling of the session. This gave much more time,
the appropriation bills being early got out of the
way (though they have not yet been passed). for
other legislation than is generally obtained at
short session. and consequently, with manifest
disposition to try to do something, which has been
remarkably lacking at previous sessions, there is
likely to be more important legislation accom-
plshed.
Bills for the repeal of forfeited land grants to
railroads have received great deal of the atten-
tion of the session, and number of such bills,
FORGETTING larger or smaller amounts of land, have
been passed and become laws. But the two most
important bills that have been before Congress at
this session have been the Interstate Commerce
bill and the Anti Mormon bill. The former has
occupied the attention of the Senate almost ever
since the holidays and even before. There was
tremendous fight between the advocates of the bill
| and the railroads. An immense lobby has always
been supported here by the great railroad compa-
MES "tO look out for their interests it has been
in their favor or to prevent any legislation that
might be against them, whether for or against the
| people, which probably the same thing, and
perfectly fulfilled the above definition. But since
the above Interstate Commerce bill, which pre-
vents determinations against the people and is in
the atters interests and not supposed to be favor
able to the railroads, this lobby was brought to
the acme of its strength and influence to prevent
the passage of the bill, and up to the last it was
difficult to tell whether it would pass the Senate
or not, many of the Senators not expressing them
| selves on it until the vote was taken. However,
it did pass the Senate the present week by very
unexpectedly large majority. THERE'S little doubt
but that it will easily pass the House, be signed
by the President and become a law, doing greater
justice to the people than has been accorded them
by the large corporations engaged in the carrying
trade of the country. The bill provides for the
appointment of a commission of five persons to
superintend the railroad business of the country,
but three of whom belong to one political
party, with salaries of $500 each per annum,
which will be very fat plums for some persons who
may be fortunate enough to obtain the positions
of commissioners. However, the law will be great.
y to the interest of the people and the country at
large.
The Mormon bill, which passed the Senate also
this week and was sent to the House, can hardly
be esteemed of less importance than the above
bill and has awakened much interest here
that. 1t looked like, it left the Senate and
went to the House, it would surely root out every
vestge of polygamy in the Territory of Utah,
the Estate of Geneseret," as Latter Day Saints
are pleased to style their little polygamic empire
west of the Rocky mountains The House seemed
to think that it would not be quite strong par
ticular enough not to allow some parts of the
polygamic institutions to slip through its meshcs
somewhere, if it had any, that body cut out all
of the Senate bill after the enactng clause and
substituted bill of its own This latter bill, ap
parently, is much more stringent than the former,
and must if it is adopted, entirely wipe out allthe
institutions of Mormon polygamy in the terrific
ries. The Mormons, after its adoption, can no
longer practice their denominations within the ter
ritory of the United States, which have been such
disgrace to the nation, but will be compelled to
conform to the customs of decent communities,
their religion which has been their preteXt being
no protection to them The bill carefully guards
all the rights and property of the people who are
not subservient to or made to contribute to the
disgraceful Mormonism. All forfeitures of prop
erty belonging to the Mormon church, illegally
accumulated under its laws and the legislative
enactments of the Utah Mormon Legislature, are
to be applied to the education of the children of
the Territory. 1t particularly provides against
the future immigration of persons into the Terri
tory through societies for polygamous any other
purposes son of Brigham Young here last
night who has been closely watching this egisla-
ton in Congress, said that the extreme strngency
of the bill is the best hope for them 1.-THE Mormons)
as it will, he says, likely defeat itself. The House
substitute bill will go to the Senate to be acted
upon and there be sent to a committee. Some
fear that a political contest may arise over it be-
tween the two Houses, each wanting the prestige
of this Mormon legislation, and the bill thereby
be defeated. This is hardly probable, both
branches of Congress being anxious to stamp out
Mormon denominations. The readers of The UNION
are perhaps not aware that legislation to abolish
Mormonism began as early as 1862, during the
war period.
Much comment is caused here to-day by the
fact that the House committee on invalid pensions
yesterday reported adversely the bill to allow Mrs.
Logan, widow of the late Gen. John A. Logan, a
pension of $4,000 per annum, which had been
passed by the Senate. The assigned by
the committee for this peculiar is that it
wished to put an end to the giving of large pen
sions to the widows of general officers while many
others receive but little or no pension. The COM
ments with regard to it are certainly very adverse
to the committee. 1t will be difficult to convince
many of the old soldiers of the country, especially
the members of the G. A. R., of whom Gen. Logan
was great favorite and the first commander in
chief that it was not directed especially against
Logan, who occupied place on the last National
Republican ticket, and therefore will not take
kindly to the action of the committee. Mrs. Grant
was allowed $4,000 per annum by Congress, and
Mrs. Hancock $4,000. Logan was poor and, if
dependent on the Government, without this pen
sion Mrs. Logan would be penniless. However,
the House may pass the pension bill, notwith-
standing the adverse report of the committee.
There has been great interest here over the SEN
atorial contests going in the several states
The greatest surprise was the leaving at home of
Senator Conger, of Michigan, whose term expires
next March. The principal contests now on which
attention is centred are in New Jersey and Indi-
ana, where it cannot be told whether Republicans
or Democrats will be elected, and in Nebraska,
where Senator Van Wyck is likely to be sent back.
ANON.